The New York high school student who made thousands of dollars selling unauthorized white iPhone 4 conversion kits said in an interview that he learned of Apple's lawsuit against him through media reports.

Apple filed and simultaneously dismissed a lawsuit against Fei Lik "Phillip" Lam and his parents in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New York earlier this week. The suit accuses Lam of "infringing and diluting Apple's famous trademarks" by selling parts for the then-unreleased white iPhone 4.

"Defendant at all times knew that Apple has never authorized the sale of white panels for its iPhone 4 mobile devices, and that he obtained these parts from sources that were not authorized by Apple or any of its suppliers to sell them," the complaint read.

However, in an interview with Fast Company, Lam admitted on Thursday that he first learned of the suit through the media. "Don't know if I should talk about it but I found out about the suit from the news," he said.

Lam also admitted that, contrary to earlier reports, he didn't make $130,000 from selling the conversion kits. When questioned whether his parents were upset when they learned of the lawsuit, Lam said they were "a bit upset."

In his defense, Lam asserts that he purchased the parts from a Chinese businessman, not from Foxconn directly. Foxconn issued a statement last year denying that its workers had sold any parts to Lam.

Though Lam and Apple have yet to reach a settlement, he is scheduled to meet with the company's lawyers in New York "within the next month."

Lam took his website offline after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Apple last December. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak admitted that he "got in quick" to purchase a kit from the site before it was taken down.

After production challenges caused a 10-month delay, Apple released the white iPhone 4 in April. The device has been particularly popular in Asia, selling out within hours in several countries in the region. In China, a scuffle took place over the white iPhone 4 after alleged scalpers attempted to cut into a line for the smartphone.

Analyst Brian White with Ticonderoga Securities sees the device as having a "certain mystique and scarcity value." He predicts Apple could sell as many as 1.5 million units of the white iPhone 4 per quarter until the launch of the next-generation iPhone arrives.

The New York high school student who made thousands of dollars selling unauthorized white iPhone 4 conversion kits said in an interview that he learned of Apple's lawsuit against him through media reports.

Apple filed and simultaneously dismissed a lawsuit against Fei Lik "Phillip" Lam and his parents in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New York earlier this week. The suit accuses Lam of "infringing and diluting Apple's famous trademarks" by selling parts for the then-unreleased white iPhone 4.

"Defendant at all times knew that Apple has never authorized the sale of white panels for its iPhone 4 mobile devices, and that he obtained these parts from sources that were not authorized by Apple or any of its suppliers to sell them," the complaint read.

However, in an interview with Fast Company, Lam admitted on Thursday that he first learned of the suit through the media. "Don't know if I should talk about it but I found out about the suit from the news," he said.

I doubt this is true or possibly his parents knew but didn't tell him/

Lam also admitted that, contrary to earlier reports, he didn't make $130,000 from selling the conversion kits. When questioned whether his parents were upset when they learned of the lawsuit, Lam said they were "a bit upset."

In his defense, Lam asserts that he purchased the parts from a Chinese businessman, not from Foxconn directly. Foxconn issued a statement last year denying that its workers had sold any parts to Lam.

Regardless of where he got the parts, they had Apple's logo on them so they were counterfeits.

Though Lam and Apple have yet to reach a settlement, he is scheduled to meet with the company's lawyers in New York "within the next month."

Lam took his website offline after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Apple last December. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak admitted that he "got in quick" to purchase a kit from the site before it was taken down.

After production challenges caused a 10-month delay, Apple released the white iPhone 4 in April. The device has been particularly popular in Asia, selling out within hours in several countries in the region. In China, a scuffle took place over the white iPhone 4 after alleged scalpers attempted to cut into a line for the smartphone.

Analyst Brian White with Ticonderoga Securities sees the device as having a "certain mystique and scarcity value." He predicts Apple could sell as many as 1.5 million units of the white iPhone 4 per quarter until the launch of the next-generation iPhone arrives.

Yeah, putting the Apple logo on the parts was stupid, he could have just sold a nice looking white replacement case and I can't imagine there would have been anything illegal about it at all. Or at least if the law in general made any sense...

Yeah, putting the Apple logo on the parts was stupid, he could have just sold a nice looking white replacement case and I can't imagine there would have been anything illegal about it at all. Or at least if the law in general made any sense...

What do you mean "putting"? These were legit parts. The logo was there. He didn't put it there and he couldn't remove it.

However, in an interview with Fast Company, Lam admitted on Thursday that he first learned of the suit through the media. "Don't know if I should talk about it but I found out about the suit from the news," he said.

He is either lying or more likely because he is a minor his parents were served the paperwork and didn't tell him. But, assuming all this talk is actual fact, Apple informed him of the suit. Otherwise it is not valid

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrstep

Yeah, putting the Apple logo on the parts was stupid, he could have just sold a nice looking white replacement case and I can't imagine there would have been anything illegal about it at all.

The logo is not the only issue. If at any point he used the terms Apple or iPhone to sell this item then he was also trading with Apple trademark's which he was not authorized to use.

Also if Chinese law is anything like US he was dealing in stolen goods

If we accuse this kid of paying for stolen goods then we must also accuse Woz of this crime. Surely Woz would know about authentic Apple products than anyone yet I think we've seen him flaunt his stolen kit in public, perhaps even outside an Apple Store before an event.

Apple put a halt to the kid's business with the suit. They had to protect their interest, but this legal case will be a no show. Apple PR surely wants nothing to do with prosecuting some teenager. Enjoy the brief hoopla while it last guys. This case is going nowhere. Apple will never press it. Nor will they allow an Apple Cofounder, the "Woz," to be dragged into a legal battle over this issue.